Political Science at University of Iowa
Iowa City, IA · Public · Bachelor's Degree · Political Science and Government
DegreeOutlook Score (Base Case) — assumes in-state tuition
58
Optimistic
57
Base Case
53
Pessimistic
Earnings
$39,133/yr (7% vs median)
AI Risk
Very High (50% exposed)
Job Market
Very Large (182,300 openings/yr)
ROI
13.5x earnings multiple (4.5x out-of-state)
How AI Changes the Outlook
Three scenarios based on how aggressively AI disrupts the career paths available to Political Science graduates.
| Optimistic No Disruption |
Base Case Gradual AI |
Pessimistic Aggressive AI |
|
|---|---|---|---|
| 10-Year Earnings | $606K | $593K | $538K |
| Earnings Multiple (In-State) | 13.8x | 13.5x | 12.3x |
| Earnings Multiple (Out-of-State) | 4.6x | 4.5x | 4.1x |
| Probability of Field Employment | 50% | 44% | 33% |
| DegreeOutlook Score | 58 | 57 | 53 |
10-Year Earnings Projection
*Year 1 uses actual reported earnings. Scenarios diverge as AI impact compounds over time.
4-Year Tuition, In-State (Sticker)
$43,856
Out-of-state: $131,708 (4.5x ROI)
Median Debt at Graduation
$21,500
6.6 months of Year 1 earnings
Reported Earnings (5 Year)
$63,699
63% growth from Year 1
About University of Iowa
University of Iowa has a 85% acceptance rate, making it broadly accessible, serving a student body of 21,691 in Iowa City, IA.
See all programs and financial aid at University of Iowa →Top Career Paths
Political scientists
$139,380/yr
Managers, all other
$136,550/yr
Economics teachers, postsecondary
$119,980/yr
Compare & Explore
Political Science at Other Schools
Other Majors at University of Iowa
Consider the Trade Route?
Trade programs often mean less time in school, lower student debt, and hands-on career paths that tend to be more resilient to AI disruption.
Frequently Asked Questions
What is the DegreeOutlook Score for Political Science at University of Iowa?
A score of 57/100 puts this program in competitive territory — solid outcomes, though not at the top of the Political Science field.
Will AI replace Political Science careers?
With 50% of typical job tasks exposed to AI, this is one of the higher-risk fields. Our pessimistic scenario projects $538,237 in decade earnings vs $606,242 in the optimistic case — a meaningful gap.
What makes University of Iowa's Political Science program stand out?
Ranked #64 of 521 programs nationally, University of Iowa lands in the top 25%. The ranking reflects a combination of graduate earnings, return on investment, and job market alignment.
Scores use College Scorecard earnings, BLS employment projections, and AI task-exposure research.
See full methodology →